Coin-controlled target-practice apparatus.



H. H. GUMMINGS. COIN GONTROLLBD TARGET PRACTICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10. 1903. Y Patented Nov. 30, 1909.-

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H. H, GUMMINGS. G01N coNTRoLLBD TARGET PRACTICE APPARATUS. APPLICATION IILED-AUG. 10. 1903.

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H. H. GUMMINGS. COIN GONTROLLBD TARGET PRACTICE APPARATUS.

APPLIoATIoN 111.1111 1116.10. 1903.

Patented N0v.3o,1909.

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H. H. OUMMINGS. G01N GONTROLLBD TARGET PRACTICE APPARATUS.

APYLIOATION FILED AUG! 10, 1903.

Patented Nov.30, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. CUMMINGS, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 SUB-TARGET GUN COMPANY, 0F SACO, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

COIN-CONTROLLED TARGET-PRACTICE APPARATUS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

Application led August 10, 1903. Serial No. 168,907.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY H. CUMMINGs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Malden, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Coin Controlled Target Practice Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention consists in improvements in coin or check-controlled devices, being particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with coin or check-controlled devices for permitting the practice of marksmanship.

I have herein illustrated and described my invention with reference to a device intended for the practice of marksmanship, wherein is employed an aiming device so mounted as to be capable of anaiming movement with reference to a main target and provided with a suitable follower to follow the aiming movement thereof, and also with suitable recording devices to record the position of the follower upon a sub or miniature target at the time of simulated firing, the object therein being the accurate record of the aim upon the sub-target Without the issuance of any projectile from the aiming.

device. I have also herein described suitable coin controlled mechanism to permit the movement of the aiming device and the record of the aim thereof only upon the `insertion of a coin or other suitable operating member; also suitable target feeding devices for ejecting the used sub-target from the apparatus and delivering the same within the grasp of the marksman, and for placing a fresh sub-target from a target magazine in recording position ready for another record or shot.

I herein claim the several features of my invention in combination with, or as applied to, coin or check-controlled devices.

The novel features of my target practice apparatus described which are capable of use apart from coin or check-controlled devices are separately claimed in a co-pending application, Serial No. 178,807 filed October es, 1903.

My invention will be best understood from the following description, taken in connection With the accompanying illustration of the specific embodiment herein selected, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,-Figure l is a side elevation of one form of my invention with the housing or casing partially removed to show the contained parts; Fig. 2 is a sub or miniature target upon which the aim is recorded; Fig. 3 is a plan view, partially in section, showing the follower connection and the coin operated releasing lever; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary partial section in elevation of the same; Fig. 5 is a detail of the follower ,y connection; Fig. 6 is an elevation, partially in section, of the recording devices and the lever locking means; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation showing the lever locking devices for locking thc feeding mechanism, other parts being removed; Figs. S and 9 are sectional detail views taken on the lines 8 8 and 9 9, respectively in Fig. 7; Fig. l0 is a sectional elevation showing the target feeding devices; Fig. ll is an elevation in section taken on the line 11-11 in Fig. 10.

Referring to Fig. l, I have shown a coin controlled target practice apparatus having an aiming device, such as the revolver A, provided with the rearwardly extending arm a, secured to the revolver but-t, and universally mounted upon a universal support B, carried Within and secured to the casing C which latter may be supported upon a standard or other suitable support of any suitable form or height, but which herein is not shown. The revolver A, is tlius supported so as to be capable of a free universal aiming movement, and may be grasped in the hands of the marksman and aimed at any suitable object, such as a distant target. The aiming device, however, is ordinarily secured from aiming movement by the spring a dummy device or an actual firearm. The revolver is normally maintained in its uncocked position, as shown in Fig. 1, through the retractile spring as, secured to the arm a, and tending to draw the lever a5 and rod et forward to maintain the hammer a6 in its seated position. lVhen the revolver is cocked, the rod at Vforces the lever a5 backward and the nger a3 downward, the latter causing the release of the catch a, the parts being then held in the cocked position and permitting the free aiming movement of the revolver about its universal support until the trigger is pulled. Connected to follow the aiming movement of the aiming device when the latter is free, is the rearwardly extending follower' rod within the casing C and provided at its opposite end with the right-angled finger Z1 (see Figs. 3 and 5), secured thereto in any suitable way, as by the adjustable connection b2. The finger b 'is provided with a crooked end, which underlies the rearwardly projecting shank of the recording needle b3. The latter is also capable of universal movement and for that purpose is provided with a spherical bearing b4, seated in an upright bracket b5, secured to a shelf c, which latter mayV be and herein is a part of the casing C. To connect the follower rod b with the revolver arm a the former is secured at its forward end to a cross pin b seated in a transverse V-shaped groove in the arm a, such pin having the end opposite to that secured to the rod b, bent forwardly in the irregular manner shown and provided with the vertically adjustable positioning point adapted to center itself in the bottom of'a cooperating slot in the arm ar, when the arm is raised after the revolver has been released by cooking.

After the revolver has been raised, the spring bs tends to pull the positioning point 297 into the slot in the arm a and there maintain it to cause the following rod Z) to have at all times when the apparatus is in use a fixed, and the same, position relative to the arm and revolver, so that it follows the aiming movement of the latter and correctly transmits the same through the finger o to the indicating needle b3.

As the revolver is raised, the finger o is correspondingly lowered. As the revolver is lowered, the finger is raised, and as the former is shifted to one side of the latter, the finger undergoes a pro-portional opposite movement. During all movements of the follower, however, the needle is caused to remain seated .in the crook of the finger Z1, through the tension spring Zr, and the needle point, therefore, reproduces with reference to the sub-target the exact aiming movement of the revolver with reference to the main target, although to a different and greater degree. The sub or miniature target l) is secured in a suitable target holder directly in front of the needle point and at the time of simulated firing is forced as hereafter described against the needle point to permanently record the position of the needle and therefore the aim of the revolver at that time.

lt is desirable to restrain the movement of the recording needle D and limit its range to the face of the sub-target, while permitting at all times free movement of the revolver.

To permit of this, ar limiting frame om is provided, through which the needle passes, acting to limit the movement of the needle when the revolver undergoes excessive deflection in any direction upon its universal support. The connection between the linger ZJ and the needle, and between the follower b and the revolver arm a, provides ar yielding connection between the needle and the revolver to permit this excess of movement of the latter over the former. Thus, when the revolver is moved in either direction, so as to bring the needle against the limiting frame, the unseating of the pin o from its cooperating slot in the arm e, or the unseating of the needle shank from the crooked finger o, permits the further unimpeded movement of the revolver itself. An excessive upward deflection of the revolver causes merely the withdrawal of the finger b from the needle shank after contact between the needle and the limiting fr ame has taken place, while an excessive downward deflection thereof causes simply the withdranuil of the positioning point 07 from its cooperating slot, which, it will be observed, is the normal condition when the revolve arm is locked, as shown in Figs. l and G.

For an accurate record, it is necessary that the apparatus be accurately adjusted, and that the needle b3 point to the bulls-eye of the sub-target when the revolver or other firearm points to the bulls-eye of the distant target. To effect this, the revolver is first accurately sighted at the bulls-eye of the main target, and when in this position, the needle, if needs be, is adjusted to point also at the bulls-eye of the sub-target, adjustments in a vertical plane being effected by screwing the threaded positioning point `in or out; and adjustments in a horizontal plane, by adjust-ing the point of connection of the finger b to the following rod To permit of a determinate accurate adjustment of the needle even though the latter lshould become bent, the ball b* has a depending pin 2) playing. in a slot in the shelf c, to prevent rotation of the needle about its axis, though in no way impeding its free movement.

The target when in position is held in two parallel grooves, 0*, in the target case, c on the shelf c, and between the two spring fingers c2 and the movable target pad d, the

latter being slidably mounted within the target case c and provided with the propelling or target pin (Z against which presses the target hammer (Z2 secured to bell crank lever (L5.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the former of which shows the recording mechanism in the uncooked condition of the revolver, the target hammer (Z2 is held locked and therefore likewise the revolver hammer and the target pad (Z, by the pivoted locking catch Z3 (then in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.), having an arm secured to the rearwardly extending connecting rod d4. The latter is secured by a pin CZ5 to the coin-controlled releasing lever, CZ, which is pivoted at (ZT to the casing C. The releasing lever (ZG is provided at its forward end with a coin receptacle beneath a suitable coin slot, E, the latter leading to the upper and outer portion of the casing C, and at its opposite end with a weight ZS to balance the lever about its pivot (Z7, as shown in Fig. 7, when there is no coin in its receiver.

When a coin is inserted in the slot E and passes into the receiver of the releasing lever cZ, the latter is tilted from a horizontal position, not shown in Fig. 4, about its pivot (Z7 into the full line posit-ion shown in Fig. 4, the connecting rod CZt being drawn rearwardly by the retrogression of the lever pin (Z5, causing thereby the withdrawal of the latch (Z3 from the hammer CZ2, the former passing from the dotted to the full line position shown'in Fig. 3.

The releasing lever d6 comes to rest in the full line position shown in Fig. 4, where further movement is limited by the action of the spring Z9 secured to the adjustable support (Zw, and passing through pivot Z7 and the pin (Z5 with considerable clearance, so as to permit a downward movement of the lever into the full line position shown in Fig. -t before action of the spring (Z0 begins. The releasing lever is, however, further depressed by the subsequent cooking of the re volver, which throws the hammer (Z2 forward against the inclined cam-like surface of the catch (Z3, pushing the latter out of its path, to force the connecting rod (Z4 still further backward and the releasing lever Z6 farther downward against the action ofthe spring (Z9, an exposed edge of the coin then striking a part of the casing, to cause the discharge of the coin from the receiver of the releasing lever into a suitable slide, (Zn, Figs. 1-6, whence it passes into the main coin receiver (ZN, Fig. 1, near the bottom of the casing C. The lever (Z6, relieved of the weight of the coin, tends to return to its normal, horizontal position, assisting the spring (Z9 in causing the movement of the catch Z3 into its locking position as soon as the hammer (Z2 has been returned to the position shown in Fig. 3 by. firing the revolver.

For setting the recording devices, the bell crank lever t5 is provided (Fig. G) with an upright spring linger c, pressing against the depending arm e', secured to a sleeve c2,

f pivoted at e, said sleeve having also a depending spring finger et engaging a notch in the forwardly projecting slide e secured to the target pad (Z. After a coin has been inserted to cause the withdrawal of the catch (Z3 from the target hammer (Z2, and when the revolvei; has been subsequently cocked to pull the hammer Z2 back from the target pin (Z, the spring finger c forces the rod or pin e forward, together with its attached spring finger e4, the latter causing the withdrawal of the target pad CZ from the target, the position shown in Fig. 10, into the position shown in Fig. 6. After the revolver has been aimed and the trigger pulled in the act of simulated tiring, the hammer (Z2,

thereby released, is forced against the target rod d, by the spring as, throwing the target pad against the target to force the latter against the adjacent point of the recording needle. The targetpad is preferably faced with some elastic material, such as rubber or felt, and its forcible impact against the target and the resulting needle puncture therefore cause a permanent record of the aim of the revolver.

After the record has been made, the target may be ejected from the apparatus, and delivered within the grasp of the operator by the following means, which suffice also to present in proper position a fresh target for a new trial of` marksmanship. A target holder or magazine, F is provided, of any suitable form, but preferably in the form of a circular or disk holder having pockets for holding a supply of sub-targets in outwardly radiating positions, as shown in Figs. 1 and` 10. This holder is rotatably mounted upon a spindle, f, to which it is secured by the wire clip and by which it is given a constant rotative tendency in a right-handed direction (Fig. 10) by means of the weight Leading downwardly from the target case er holder is a target feeding slot, formed by and between the stationary member f2 and the spring pressed member f4, the former being extended down and in front of a targetcarried by the holder and the latter terminating in a beveled lip just above the upper target edge, so that as the target is lifted out of the holder by the lifting fingers f5 .engaging the exposed under target-edge, it naturally finds its way into the slot into which it is forced by the lifting fingers, the stationary members f3 being slotted, Fig. 11, to permit the lifting of the target into the target slot until it has forced the superposedtarget previously in the slot, into its proper position for record within the target holder. The preceding target, asit is forced out of the slot and into the holder, also pushes the target upon which record has been made, through the exterior slot or opening f6 in the ripper' wall of the casing, where it projects for a por'tion of its length and may be readily withdrawn by the operator.

The relative position of the targets, as they progr'ess from the magazine, is shown in Fig. l0, where D represents the target just expelled from the machine where it has had imprinted upon it the record of the revolver aim, D2, the target which has forced D out of position and is itself in position suitable for receiving its record, D3, the target just lifted from the holder into the slot and D4 that target of those remaining in the holder which is neXt to be lifted.

To raise the lifting fingers and thereby effect proper feeding of the targets, the same are connected to a rod f7, slidably mounted in suitable guide-ways, f, secured to the casing C. Sliding with the rod f7 and adjustably secured thereto, is the coupling f8, having' an overhanging arm fg, sliding on and guided by the guide-piece fw, said coupling fs connecting t-he sliding rod f7 with one arm of the bell crank fu, thr'ough the connecting link 7m. The lever fu is moved with and by the operating lever fig, on the outside of the casing C. Then the hand lever, fw, is depressed, i-t moves the bell crank lever f, coupling f8, and rod f7, into the dotted line position shown (Fig. l0) causing the lifting fingers f5 to engage that target which is then in position beneath the target slot and raise the same up and into the slot, as described. As the hand lever fw is released, it is withdr'awn into its nominal position by the spring f, and the target feeding parts, including the lifting fingers f5 are restored to the full line position shown in Fig. l0, the target holder' being turned through the weight f2, to bring the next succeeding target into position against the stationary member f3 of the target slot.

l'n order to prevent an incomplete cycle of operations of the target feeding' apparatus, which might occur were the hand lever' fm only partially depressed and to therefore compel the completion of the movement when once begun, I have provided means for preventing reverse movement of the operating lever' until it has reached the limit of its downward stroke and for preventing any further downward movement after its upward stroke has begun.

Referring to Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, the lever fu, has an upright arm g, carrying the substantially horizontal locking rod g, the latter' being provided at its end with the pawl g2, engaging the teeth of thc double ratchet g3, the latter' being so constructed as to permit a forward movement of the pawl upon the lower' teeth only, and rear'- ward movement upon the upper teeth, the

latter corresponding to a depression of the hand lever, and the former to its upward movement.

Then the r'evolver is locked in position and uncocked, awaiting the insertion of a coin, and after the revolver has been cocked and before firing, the target feeding devices, including the hand lever f1, are locked, as shown in Fig. 7, by the engagement of the pawl g2, in forward position, with the .lower set of ratchet teeth. The cocking of the revolver, however, forcing the depending pin e on the sleeve e2 forward, as it does, through the spring finger c, depresses also a rearwardly extending arm g4, secured to the sleeve e2, and permits the pivotally mounted catch g", Figs. 7 and 8, to swing in under the lever g, the catch being pivoted upon the swinging arm g, which is lowered as the arm g4 is depressed. When the revolver is fired, the hammer' (Z2, target rod cl', and target pad (l, are thrown rearwardly, and the spring c* is put under tension, causing the sleeve c2 and the arm g4 to swing upward, the latter' carrying the catch g5 with its swinging arm gG and lifting the lever g to cause the pawl g2 to contact with the upper' row of teeth in the ratchet g3. The handle f may then be depressed to actuate the target feed, the locking lever g and the pawl g2 moving to the r'ear end of the ratchet g through the intermediate position fragmentarily shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10. At the end of its rearward movement the locking lever' g frees itself from the catch g5 (Fig. 9) and is pulled into its lower position through the tension spring gf, to cause engagement between the pawl g2 and the lower set of ratchet teeth. On releasing the pressure on the hand lever gw, the reverse movement of the feed mechanism takes place through the spring f, the locking lever' g and pawl y moving from the rearward dotted line position shown in Fig. l0 to full line position therein. Thus, it will be seen that at no position in its movement is the locking lever' g capable of a retrograde movement. lVhen the lever g in its rearward position frees itself fr'om the catch g5, the arm g* is lifted against the stop gs, where it is held preparatory for subsequent depression when the revolver is again cocked. At the time of iring the revolver, the tension upon the spring e4 which causes the lifting of the pawl g2 against the ripper set of ratchet teeth, also serves to slightly withdr'aw the tar'get pad fr'om the needle point to fr'ee the target therefrom, so that fur'ther' movement of the needle will not mar the tar'get or injure the needle point.

Vhen in operation, the casing C with its contained parts, is placed upon a pedestal or other suitable support so arranged with reference to a main tar'get that the pistol. when freed may be aimed thereat. A stand 9eme@ ard target may be used for this purpose at the standard distance, or, the same may be proportionately reduced for a lesser distance to economize space when the full range distance is not available. The sub-target D is preferably an exact reproduction of the main target but appropriately reduced.

The apparatus being locked, as shown in Fig. 1, a coin is inserted in the coin slot, causing release of the hammer catch, cl3. The revolver may then and not until then be cocked, which causes the release of the catch a, freeing the instrument for aiming purposes, and further sets the recording devices in the position shown in Fig. 6. As the marksman now aims at the main target, the needle, which is visible through glass wall Gr, in the casing C, correctly reproduces the direction of the trajectory of the firearm with reference t-o the sub or miniature target D. When the trigger a7 is pulled to imitate the act of firing, the target pad is thrown against the target to record the needle position and consequently the aim thereon, and the locking lever g is simultaneously lifted to unlock the feeding mechanism and permit through the manipulation of the feeding lever 7613, the expulsion of the record target andthe introduction in its place of a fresh one for repetition of the trial.

It will be obvious that my invention is in no respect limited to the details herein shown, or to the form and arrangement of parts selected for the purpose of describing my invention, but that the latter is capable of embodiment in many forms, and moreover that various individual features herein described are as well capable of use in other combinations and other connections.

Claims.

1. In a coin apparatus, a fulcrumed lever adapted to receive an inserted coin and to be oscillated thereby, means for normally holding it in coin receiving position, a vibratory member, a pivoted locking device normally acting to prevent movement thereof, and a connection between the same and said lever, the latter being actuated by the movement of said lever to operate said locking device for locking or unlocking said vlbratory member.

2. In a coin controlled apparatus, a pivoted lever having a coin receiving means at one end and a counterbalance at the other, the latter normally operating to hold the former in coin,V receiving position, a reciprocatory member, an actuator therefor and normally in engagement therewith, an oscillatory locking device normally operating to hold the latter in inoperative position and a lilikV connecting said locking member and said coin receiving lever and for transmitting motion of the latter to the former.

8. In a `coin controlled apparatus, a casing having a coin passage, a pivoted counterbalance lever adapted to receive and carry a coin at one end and having a counterbalance at the other for normally holding the coin receiving end in position to receive a coin from said passage, a fulcrum pin on which said lever is mounted, a pin on said lever below its fulcrum and a spring secured to the casing at one end and inserted loosely through the said pins, and an operating member connected with the lower pin and movable therewith, said spring coperating with said counterbalance in returning the lever to its normal coin receiving position.

t. In a coin controlled apparatus, a casing having a coin passage, a pivoted counterbalance lever adapted to receive and carry a coin at one end and having a counterbalance at the other for normally holding the coin receiving end in position to receive a coin from said passage, a fulcrum pin on which said lever is mounted, a pin on said lever below its fulcrum and a spring secured to the casing at one end and inserted loosely through the said pins, and means for adjusting the casing end of said spring, the latter coperating with said counterbalance in returning the lever to its normal coin receiving position.

5. The combination with a pivoted coin or check-receiving lever, counter-balancing means for one end thereof tending to turn the coin-receiving portion to a coin-receiving position, means interposing a resistance to movement of said lever to a fully depressed position when a coin or check is deposited therein to permit a partial depression thereof only, an indepndently movable latching device adapted to be moved by said lever on its movement to a partly depressed position, and'means subsequently to move said lever to a fully depressed position.

6. The combination with a pivoted coin or check-receiving lever, counter-balancing means for one end thereof tending to turn the coin-receiving portion to a coin-receiving position, means interposing a resistance to movement of said lever to a fully depressed position when a coin or check is deposited' therein, a latching device adapted to be moved by said lever on its movement to a partly depressed position, and means acting through subsequent movement of said latching device to cause further movement of said coin-receiving lever to its fully depressed position. 7. In a coin or check controlled apparatus, the combination with a pivoted coin-receiving lever, of independently movable latching means operated thereby, means providing for the control of said latching means through movement of said coin-receiving lever to a depressed position, and means subsequently acting to further depress said lever for the discharge of the coin.

to a fully depressed position on insertion of a check, and means for acting` upon said yielding resistance through said .bitching 15 device for causing` the subsequent movement of said lever to a fully depressed position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of tivo subscribing` witnesses.

HENRY H. CUMMING S. fitnesses THOMAS B. BOOTH, Evnrn'r'r T. EMERY. 

